Juan Rivera was initially expected to miss two months with a torn hamstring suffered on May 9, but the Dodgers outfielder/first baseman is so far ahead of schedule in his recovery that he’s hoping to come off the disabled list this weekend.

Rivera has already played two games on a minor-league rehab assignment and told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that he’d like to be back in the Dodgers’ lineup Friday versus the Rockies.

Or at least back on the roster, that is. Rivera’s injury opened the door for Bobby Abreu to emerge as a key part of the Dodgers’ lineup in left field and there may not be much more than a platoon role waiting for Rivera when he returns.

Abreu has hit .339 with a .908 OPS in 22 games for the Dodgers and being limited mostly to facing left-handed pitching is probably the best role for Rivera at this stage of his career anyway.